Amateur-built Q2 accident near Clinton, North Carolina, September 4, 1986
On September 4, 1986 at about 10:30 pm local time, a amateur-built Q2, registered N206JB, was destroyed in an accident near Clinton, North Carolina. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 4, 1986 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Clinton, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Q2
- Registration
- N206JB · no longer on the register · serial 2060
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS DESTROYED DURING A FORCED LNDG AFTER A POWER LOSS DURING TAKEOFF CLIMB. THE PLTS SON WITNESSED THE TAKEOFF & SAW THE ACFT DESCEND BELOW TREES NORTH OF THE ARPT. HE SAID THAT THE ENG SOUNDED OUT OF TIME. DURING A POST ACC ENG INSPECTION THE MAGNETO WAS FOUND LOOSE IN ITS MOUNT. THE LUGS WERE MADE OF ALUMINUM WHICH ALLOWED THE MAGNETO TO WORK LOOSE TO AN ESTIMATED 29 DEGREES OUT OF TIME. THIS WAS A HOMEBUILT ACFT RECENTLY CERTIFIED IN THE EXPERIMENTAL CATEGORY FOR FLT TEST IN A FLT TEST AREA. THE PLT SAID THAT THE ACFT STARTED BACKFIRING AT APRX 25 FT AGL AND COULD NOT SUSTAIN FLT. HE LANDED IN A SOYBEAN FIELD OFF THE ARPT.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 190 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 30 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, June 19, 1986; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 995 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Custom O-313 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CTZ Clinton NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 4 knots, gusting 4
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,200 ft; scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:00 pm from FAY, 29 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.